Johnsonville Trucking creates a recipe for private fleet success

Johnsonville Sausage started from humble beginnings in 1945 by the late Ralph F. and Alice Stayer in their tiny butcher shop near Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Today, the company manufactures and sells more than 80 different varieties of sausage to grocery businesses across 45 countries and in more than 75 U.S. professional, semi-pro, and college sports stadiums.

During the mid-1980s, Johnsonville Sausage became a national phenomenon. Sales increased 20-fold from a decade earlier, and a direct sales force was launched, expanding distribution to 47 states. Johnsonville obtained its operating authority as a motor carrier, and drivers made deliveries directly to grocery stores and acted as salespersons.

In 2000, the company’s private fleet, Johnsonville Trucking, was established as an asset-based carrier with a strong safety culture. The fleet operates through a hub and spoke system and makes deliveries to food warehouses and grocery distribution centers around the country. The company won a Shipper of Choice award in 2020.

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Johnsonville remains a privately held company that employs and develops approximately 4,000 members globally and is led by third- and fourth-generation family members who work in all aspects of the business.

Jeff Stood, CTP, Johnsonville truck fleet coordinator, said sausage manufacturing and distribution for Johnsonville can fluctuate from season to season. “In summer months, when our volume demand is especially high, the private fleet handles outbound and inbound shipments. In winter months, our work is robust but can be slower and, therefore, is handled primarily by our fleet.”

The company’s private fleet has 48 tractors, 75 trailers, and 47 company-employee drivers. “We’ve grown by 20 drivers in the past three years. Our fleet is an invaluable core competency which has earned its reputation,” Stood said. “We handle the difficult loads with an almost-perfect on-time delivery record of 98.5% for the year. Our safety record year after year is outstanding by industry standards.”

Driver quality is a high priority for Johnsonville. “We have a very intentional and deliberative interviewing process,” Stood said. “We take our time to make sure we have a win-win understanding with the candidate and the best available person to join our team. Occasionally, this may mean a good candidate may get hired out from under us, but our process overall works well in the long run.”

“Candor and full disclosure” are core company values. “We look at driver interviewing as a two-way street. We want the driver to interview us as well and make a fully informed decision after getting all the facts. The last thing we want are preventable surprises once the driver is on board,” Stood said.

Low driver turnover and tenure of around 10 years are often the result of very careful selection from the beginning. “We look for experienced drivers with exceptionally strong and safe driving records. We want a professional with a desire for long-term employment with an employer like Johnsonville who will honor and reward their top performance and loyalty. Drivers especially like that we value their opinions and are constantly asking for their feedback. Many companies don’t appreciate how important this is as a benefit of employment from the driver's perspective.”

The company does not pay a sign-on bonus for new driver recruits. “We do pay a referral bonus to employees who recommend a driver we hire, but we found in the past that a sign-on bonus seemed to attract drivers who don’t stay in one place very long.”

A typical week for a Johnsonville driver is to run 2,300 miles, Monday through Friday, with eight or nine stops per week. Drivers are typically home on weekends. “While a majority of drivers hired are from Sheboygan Falls,” Stood noted, “we do hire drivers out of hub locations such as Kansas, Salt Lake City, and Texas. With the freight market now having excess capacity and low rates, many owner-operators are looking for the stability and benefits of working for a private fleet like Johnsonville.”

Stood said that active involvement with the National Private Truck Council has an excellent payoff. “This year, I attended the Private Fleet Management Institute and earned my Certified Transportation Professional credential,” he said. “The CTP networking opportunities are unbelievably good. Having access to the practical experience of other fleets like ours is just priceless.”

Drivers also benefit from NPTC recognition. “This year at the Council’s Annual Conference, one of our drivers was inducted into the NPTC/International Truck Driver Hall of Fame, and another driver was recognized as a National Driver All-Star at NPTC’s National Safety Conference, also sponsored by International Truck,” Stood said.

“It’s hard to believe that NPTC was introduced to me just one year ago!”